Called According to His Purpose #1: Personal, Home, Business Life
Lance emphasizes the importance of understanding God's eternal purpose, which goes beyond mere salvation. He references Romans 8:28, highlighting that all things work together for good for those who love God and are called according to His purpose. He explains that God's purpose is centered in Jesus Christ and that believers are called to be conformed to His image. Many Christians, however, lack awareness of this purpose, often viewing salvation as the ultimate goal. Lance stresses that God's purpose involves a transformative process, requiring believers to surrender to Jesus and allow the Holy Spirit to work in their lives. He warns against superficiality in faith and the dangers of apostasy, urging believers to give the Holy Spirit sovereignty and recognize the authority of Scripture. He outlines three key areas for fulfilling God's purpose: giving Jesus the praise He deserves, allowing the Holy Spirit to lead, and adhering to the Word of God. Lance concludes by discussing God's purpose for individual lives, homes, and work, emphasizing that true change comes through trials and the necessity of forgiveness in fulfilling God's plans.
Outline of Main Points
- Understanding God's eternal purpose beyond salvation
- Importance of being conformed to the image of Christ
- Need for surrender to Jesus and the Holy Spirit
- Recognizing the authority of Scripture
- Three key areas for fulfilling God's purpose:
- Praise to Jesus
- Allowing the Holy Spirit to lead
- Adhering to the Word of God
- God's purpose for individual lives, homes, and work
- Transformation through trials and the importance of forgiveness
8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; 9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: 10 To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, 11 According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: 12 In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.
28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
9 Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, 10 Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:
1 Then Job answered the LORD, and said, 2 I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from thee.
